Latch for gates.



Patented Ian. I,- 'l90l.

P ROOTS. LATCH FOR GATES.

Application filed Apt. 5. 1900.\

(No Model.)

I j rea'fircfioo fsz @H'owu;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I PRESTON ROOTS, OF KERENS, TEXAS.

LATCH FOR GATES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent Elva 665,034, dated January 1, 1901.

Serial No. 11,595. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRESTON ROOTS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kerens, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches for gates, &c., and its primary object is to provide a device of this character of peculiar construction by means of which a gate will be securely locked in closed position.

A further object is to provide a latch of simple and durable construction which may be readily applied and which is easily manipulated.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the same in locked position. Fig. 2 is a view of the cam and its attachment, and Fig. '3 is a detail view of the toothed tongue.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a plate adapted to be secured to the gate-post in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 2, and provided at its lower end with a shoulder 3, somewhat of the shape of an inverted V. At asuitable point above the shoulder 3 is pivoted a lever at, having one end 5 curved, as shown, and provided with teeth or serrations 6. A pin or stud 7 projects from the plate 1 to limit the forward movement of the lever. This lever is preferably curved upward, as shown, and is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the side of the gate is a plate 8, within which is journaled an arm 9 of a curved tongue 10, provided upon its upper surface.

with teeth or serrations similar to those upon the end 5. The end of the arm 9 is curved downward, as shown at 11, in order to support the end of the tongue in the path of th shoulder 3.

In operation when the gate is closed the tongue 10 will strike the shoulder 3 and be raised thereby into contact with the teeth 6 of the end 5, slipping thereunder, as is obvious. When the movement of the gate is reversed, however, the teeth of the end 5 and those of the tongue will engage and prevent the opening of the gate until the lever 4 is raised.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a latch, the combinationwith a plate, of a lever pivoted-thereto and having teeth at one end, a shoulder adjacent to the lever, and a toothed tongue adapted to bear upon the shoulder and engage the teeth of the lever.

2. In a latch, the combination withaplate; of a toothed lever pivoted thereto, an arm to said lover, a shoulder adjacent to the lever, a plate, a toothed tongue pivoted within said plate and normally supported in raised position, said tongue adapted to contact with the shoulder and to be'thrown into engagement with the teeth of the lever.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PRESTON Roors. 

